Leading Through Stories: Empowering Veterans with Digital Storytelling

In this compelling episode of Leading Through Stories, we delve into the transformative power of digital narratives in veteran care and mental health. Our guest, Joy Pavelich from the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, shares her own journey and work in storytelling as a pathway to healing. This episode invites listeners to explore the profound impact of sharing personal narratives, especially in the context of healing from trauma.

Joy Pavelich’s journey from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families is nothing short of inspiring. Her master’s research focused on storytelling as a means of healing trauma, and she was introduced to digital storytelling through a serendipitous encounter with Dr. Mike Lang. This encounter led to the implementation of digital storytelling workshops designed for veterans and their families, creating a safe space for sharing trauma narratives.

The episode begins by discussing the meticulous process of recruiting storytellers, ensuring their mental well-being, and providing immediate resources if they are triggered. Joy emphasizes the importance of being intentional in the recruitment process, making sure participants are in a good place to share their stories. This thoughtful approach underscores the commitment to valuing lived experiences and supporting storytellers throughout the process.

Working with trained facilitators and creating safe environments for sharing trauma narratives are crucial steps in the digital storytelling workshops. Over the past two years, the cohorts have evolved, highlighting the importance of in-person workshops and the continuous improvements made to enhance storyteller well-being. The logistics of coordinating travel, offering honorariums, and fostering bonds among storytellers are all part of the effort to create a supportive and empowering environment.

The discussion also explores the creation of bilingual, accessible digital stories within a federally funded organization. Captioning and hosting stories on both English and French websites ensure inclusivity. Sharing these stories on social channels, YouTube, and during meetings helps build trust and validation among the audience. The concept of moral injury, distinct from PTSD, is also addressed, emphasizing how digital storytelling can help individuals process trauma by turning it into a cohesive narrative.

Joy Pavelich’s deeply personal journey of grief and healing after the loss of her son Eric is a poignant highlight of the episode. Her book, Chasing my Son Across Heaven, chronicles her emotional and spiritual journey, offering valuable insights into the therapeutic power of digital storytelling. Joy’s experiences provide a powerful example of processing trauma and finding a way to move forward while honoring the memory of loved ones.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own health and wellness journeys, considering the narratives they might want to share. The episode fosters a community of shared experiences and mutual support, paving the way for healing through storytelling. The importance of storytelling in the realm of health and wellness is emphasized, inviting active participation and engagement from the audience.

In the episode, Joy discusses the intentional recruitment process, the powerful impact of digital storytelling workshops, and the importance of creating safe spaces for veterans and their families. She shares her personal experience of creating her own story with Mike and the sense-making process that helps reduce the emotional burden of retelling traumatic events.

The episode also highlights the significance of considering family dynamics and permissions when sharing personal stories publicly. Joy’s journey of grief and healing offers a moving example of finding meaning and purpose after a devastating loss. The conversation touches on the therapeutic power of digital storytelling and the delicate balance of sharing impactful, manageable narratives without overwhelming oneself.

Overall, this episode of Leading Through Stories is a profound exploration of the healing power of digital narratives in veteran care and mental health. Joy Pavelich’s insights and experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in the transformative potential of storytelling. By fostering a community of shared experiences and mutual support, the episode encourages listeners to reflect on their own health and wellness journeys and consider the stories they might want to share.

About our Guest

V. Joy Pavelich is the Executive Vice-President of Communications and Public Affairs at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. A lifelong communicator, working across the spectrum from government to corporate to non-profit, Joy also holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Communications. Prior to joining Atlas in 2020 she worked for CMHA National in Stakeholder Engagement with a focus on youth mental health, and for five years at

CMHA Calgary leading the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement portfolios, as well as UpStart the youth mental health initiative. Joy has been part of several mental health initiatives including the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s National Advisory Council on the Mental Health of Emerging Adults, the advisory panel of MoBros, a Movember funded project to develop a national men’s depression screening tool, and looking at Integrated Youth Services as a model of delivery for Alberta. In 2020 she was appointed to the Province of Alberta’s Mental Health Review Panel roster which she continues to serve on.

About Leading Through Stories

Everyone has a story to tell—and what we do with that story can create lasting impact. Every episode, Leading Through Stories, helps unravel the how and why of digital storytelling with host Kristy Wolfe.

Life is made up of meaningful moments—which ones do you want to share?

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What Changes When We Treat Stories Like Data with Dr. Katharine Smart – Co-Created

Digital storytelling can move a room to honesty in minutes, creating space for real talk about burnout, shame, and the human side of medicine. This episode we connect with Dr. Katharine Smart and reflect on how short films can help clinicians and families feel seen as whole people and how stories can fuel better care and stronger advocacy.We talk through what it looks like when digital stories show up at conferences like the Canadian Conference on Physician Health, why the multimedia format holds attention in a distracted world, and how vulnerability can feel safer when the “work” is done before anyone steps on stage. We also dig into the clinician’s role as a receiver of stories and how deep listening changes care, especially in pediatrics, mental health, and complex family consults. If you’ve ever wondered how to share 18 years of context in one appointment, you’ll hear why a short digital story can reveal the whole person beyond the chart.Episode Key MessagesWhat a digital story is and why the format worksUsing physician and family stories to open mental health conversations at conferences like the Canadian Conference on Physician HealthWhy vulnerability lands fasterShame in medical culture and how storytelling can soften itShifting from acute care to deep listening and longer consultsUsing digital stories to support complex care and transitions to adult careAccessibility and ethics, underrepresented voices, consent, and story ownershipWorkshop story circles as community buildingA citizen digital story campaign to drive healthcare accountability and reformOther Links MentionedRead this episode's blog postWatch the CMA panelLearn more about Digital Storytelling & Healthcare Provider WellnessListen to Spark Conversations – a podcast by Children's Healthcare CanadaWill we see you at the Children's Healthcare Canada conference in Calgary?Check out Health Signals with Dr. Alika LafontaineThe Outrage Cure by Dr. Alika LafontaineOther Episodes MentionedEp 23 with Dr. Daisy Dulay Ep 48 with Dr. Will Bynum of the Shame LabAbout Our GuestDr. Katharine Smart is a pediatrician, national medical leader, and unapologetic advocate for children who believes healthcare systems don’t change unless we’re willing to challenge them. Based in Canada’s north and the Okanagan, she works at the intersection of clinical care, policy, and community partnership to improve outcomes for children and families in rural and remote regions.She is the past president of the Canadian Medical Association and, in 2021, became only the 10th woman to lead the organization in its 155-year history. Named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, Dr. Smart is widely recognized for her leadership on health equity, primary care, and combating medical misinformation.A sought-after keynote speaker, media commentator, and podcast host, Dr. Smart brings evidence, urgency, and candour to conversations about the future of healthcare — and why getting it right for children is the only way forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. What Changes When We Treat Stories Like Data with Dr. Katharine Smart 26:36
2. Through Her Lens: Cameras For Girls with Amina Mohamed 24:36
3. Double the Magic: Storytelling for Healing and Impact with Melody Williamson 31:57
4. When Science Meets Story: Lessons from a PhD Defense with Becky McCall 35:57
5. Health Promoting Experiences of Storytellers: A Meta-Synthesis 49:36

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